Endless-track gun-carriage



E. RlMAlLHO.

ENDLESS TRACK GUN CARRIAGE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 22, 1919.

1,371,054. a nted Mar- 8, 1921.

ATTOE/VEKZ A TES UNITE PATNT OFFICE.

EMILE RIMAIIJHO, OF PARIS, FRANCE, ASSIGNOR TO COMPAG-NIE DES FORGES ETACIERIES DE LA MARINE ET DHOMEGOURT, OF PARIS, FRANCE.

EN BLESS-TRACK GUN-CARRIAGE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 8, 1921.

Application filed November 22, 1919. Serial No. 2 39,9114.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EMILE RIMAILHO, a citizen of the French Republic,and residing in Paris, France, 12 Rue de la Rochefoucauld, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in and Relating to Endless-TrackGun-Carriages, of which the following is a complete specification.

The invention relates to endless track gun' carriages and has for itsobject a constructional form in which the apparatus for traversing thegun by hand is intimately connected with the service of the gun by thefact that the hand wheel for effecting the traversing of the gun isplaced on the gun carriage near the sightin and elevating devices, to beworked by t e same gun layer as these latter to simplify the operationof pointing the weapon.

The accompanying drawing which represents this constructional form inside elevation shows an endless track gun carriage in the firingposition having a platform von which is carried the trunnions supportingthe gun 2 and recoil mechanism; 3 is the elevating hand wheel, I is thetraversing hand wheel working by means of bevel pinions 5 and 6 andsuitable return mechanism 7 and 8, a train of toothed reducing wheels 9which drive the toothed wheel 10 rigidly connected to the drivingsprocket of the endless track 11. It should be noted that this train ofreducing wheels is thrown into gear by the pinion 12 with the toothedwheel 10 only when the gun carriage is in the firing position, by theaid of any kind of clutch 13, such as a sleeve or a dog clutch forexample. As can be seen from the drawing the gun layer has in front ofhim the sighting apparatus, and within reach the elevating andtraversing hand wheels. It follows that when the gun layer actuates histraversing hand wheel he causes one endless track to move which bringsabout the rotation of the endless track gun carriage upon the ggeund inthe direction which he deems suita e.

The traversing transmission devices described (bevel and other pinions)may be replaced by other parts such as endless screws, helicoidalwheels, chains with chain pinions for example and the transmissionshafts may be rigid or not. The apparatus may exist for only one oftheendless tracks or be doubled by a second device working the otherendless track.

WVhat I claim is:

In an endless track gun carriage, a frame, endless tracks supporting theframe, a gun mounted on the frame, means for elevating the gun, a gearwheel on one of the sprockets of the tracks, gearing for operating thegear wheel of the sprocket wheel, means for throwing the gearing intoand out of engagement with the gear wheel of the sprocket, and means foroperating the said gearing, said means consisting of a vertical shaftarranged below the gun elevating means with its upper end adjacentthereto, a hand wheel geared with the upper end of the shaft, and ahorizontal shaft having one end geared with the lower end of thevertical shaft and its other end with the said gearing.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand at Paris, France, this24th day of October, 1919.

' EMILE RIMAILHO.

In the presence of CHAS. P. PRESSLY.

